Marine life-saving apparatus.



PATENTBD 001151907. A c. FUCHS. MARINE LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED 'JUNE 18 1908.

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GASPAR FUCHS, OF MEIRINGEN, SWITZERILAND.

MARINE LIFEKSAVIII'G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

l Application iiled June 18, 1906. Serial No. 322,213.

To all 'whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CASPER FUoHs,` a citizen of the Swiss Republic, residing at Meiringen, Canton Bern, in Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in marine life-saving apparatus comprising a gas-tight chamber or chambers adapted to be automatically inflated and made buoyant by means oi gas generated in the apparatus itself. The improved apparatus is formed of a 'length of inflatable tube or the like open at the ends ments, one for containing water and the other for carbid, by end clamps and an easily breakable intermediate clamp.

The invention is illustrated by means of an example in the annexed drawing inV which: i

Figure 1 is an elevation thereof, Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 and Fig; 3 is a cross section on the line x-rr of Fig. l.

The apparatus illustrated comprises an india-rubber tube a hcrmetically closed at its ends by means of clamps b. To each clamp b there is attached a cord c l for fastening the apparatus to the body of the user. A clamping device adapted to be easily unfastened normally compresses a portion ofthe tube a in such a manl normally divided into` two separate closed compartneras to provide the interior thereof into two compartments g and h. The larger compartment g contains water and the smaller compartment h calcium carbid, the water and carbid being introduced at the respective ends of the tube while the clamps b are unfastened. The clamping dev ice between the compartments g and h comprises a strap d placed round the tube a and pressed against. the latter by two wooden'bars or cheeks f which are interconnected by means of screws e and e1. The wooden cheeks f are weakened by means of recesses or notches f1 adjacent to the screw so that by pulling the ends of the strap d in opposite directions the weak- 'ened end-portions of the cheeks can be broken off.

The breaking of the cheeks in this manner causes the screw c to drop out, whereupon the clamping-device can be easily removed from the tube a. By this means the water and carbid in the tube are allowed to come into contact with each other so that acetylene-gas is generated and automatically infiates the tube.

After use the gas can be allowed to escape by uniastening the clamps b, whereupon fresh clamping cheeks f can be appliedl to the tube a and water and carbid can be introduced into the compartments h and g, the lends of the tube being then hermetically closed again by means of the clamps b. The ends of the tube a may also be placed side by side and pressed together by means oi a single clamp in such a manner as to hermetically close both ends, the apparatus being in that case substantially annular.

What I claim as my invention and1 desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. Marine life saving apparatus adapted for reception of substances adapted to generate gas on coming into contact, comprising a suitable length of exible tubing with open ends, a pair of clamps for closing the open ends by compression after insertion of the chemicals, and 'a readily releasable clamping device adapted to compress said tube intermediate ot said ends to divide said tube into separate compartments for the purpose set forth.

2. Marine life saving apparatus comprising an inatable tube, in combination witha clamping device adapted to divide said tube into two compartments for reception of substances adapted to generate gas on coming into contact, said clamping device comprising a strap inclosing the tube, readily breakable bars exteriorly of said strap and means for clamping said bars together.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

GASPAR FUCHS.

Witnesses:

Il KCKERKEY,

F. MOWINGHAUNIL. 

